Jill Stein has more than just an election to worry about.
A North Dakota judge has issued an arrest warrant for the Green Party presidential nominee, who spray-painted the blade of a bulldozer on Tuesday as part of a protest against the construction of an oil pipeline through sacred tribal lands.
Stein faces misdemeanor charges of criminal trespassing and criminal mischief. A spokesperson for the Morton County Sheriff’s Office said officers “would arrest her” if they encounter Stein.
A Stein spokesperson told CNN that protesters standing in opposition to the $3.7 billion Dakota Access Pipeline invited the candidate to scrawl a message on the construction vehicle. A video captured Stein writing, “I approve this message” in red paint.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8FSKJzcfEM
Stein acknowledged the possibility of facing charges on Twitter, where she condemned the building of the oil pipeline.
State of ND may charge me with vandalism. Will they charge the oil company that razed sacred burial grounds? #NoDAPL https://t.co/PAYmyN2FCm
— Dr. Jill Stein🌻 (@DrJillStein) September 6, 2016
The 1,100-mile Dakota Access Pipeline is being constructed by a company called Dakota Access. The pipeline would transport crude oil from the Bakken shale in North Dakota to Illinois, where it would continue to the Gulf Coast.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and another neighboring tribe oppose the construction of the pipeline, which the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe says would disrupt sacred land and affect its people’s water supply.
The tribes’ protest against the pipeline’s construction turned violent on Saturday after activists clashed with security personnel from Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, which said the protesters “stampeded” the construction property and attacked security personnel. The confrontation came after workers “plowed through an area containing ancient burial and cultural sites,” according to the protesters The security guards used dogs to protect the construction vehicles, and some protesters and children were reportedly bitten.
On Tuesday, U.S. Judge James Boasberg partially granted a temporary restraining order against Dakota Access, which agreed to halt construction on portions of the pipeline.
Opponents of the pipeline have called on President Barack Obama and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to address the construction controversy.
H/T Heavy
Update: 5:05pm CT, Sept. 7: Stein has been charged with two misdemeanors and a warrant has been issued for her arrest.
Contact the author: Andrew Couts, acouts@dailydot.com
